Retail Schools

[ricardomba]

Hi guys,

I'm new to the board and I just started my journey to grad school. I'm planning on applying this fall. I'm looking for advice about schools that have strong retail concentrations/classes/professors. Here's a bit about me:

GMAT: 660 (87 Verbal/61 quant): Planning on retaking; hoping for a 680-720 score.

Work Experience: 3 years so far. All of them in corporate finance at Fortune 500 companies. On my last role, I worked on a SAP implementation and hope to have strong stories/recommendations. Though I enjoyed finance, I thought there was something missing there so I've just moved to a Merchandising role within my company. My career goal would be to do Strategy for Fortune 500 and/or open my own retail consulting firm.

School: Finance and International Business. 3.63 GPA at a state school but I worked to pay for it, and was super involved in school activities (chosen by faculty as an outstanding graduate in my major).

Background: International Student. I was born and raised in Latin America. Moved to the states when I was 16. I've lived in a couple of other countries (Argentina, Guatemala, and China).

Thanks!
Ricardo.

[Jessica@VeritasPrep]

Hi Ricardo -

Welcome! I love that you are on top of the game and already thinking about next year's application cycle. I think you will have an interesting story (although if I were you, I may focus on schools with strong strategy and marketing programs - retail will be limiting and not as transferrable), and, if you can improve your GMAT quant percentile, you should have a decent shot at a good school. Right now, your main focus should be on building your resume and strengthening your relationships with the people who will be your recommenders. Strong LORs go a long way!

Your international background should also help you. And, your undergraduate grades are right on target. You may want to play up your international upbringing and this part of your education (global mindset is key) and then stress the unique things that you will bring to a business school class!

Good luck!

[ricardomba]

Thanks Jessica. I really appreciate the advice!

I've been working to keep my mentors/previous bosses informed about progress so they can write letters of recommendation in the future.

In terms of strategy/marketing programs, are there any that jump out in the field? So far, I've picked schools primarily on location, so I've been mostly looking at schools in the west coast (UCLA, Berkeley, USC maybe Stanford if GMAT goes up) and the east coast (NYU, maybe HBS/Wharton/Columbia depending on GMAT again).

[Jessica@VeritasPrep]

Hi Ricardo -

You may want to add Kellogg to your list of schools to research! It isn't a coast, but, you might love the program - one of the top for placing people in marketing/branding and well known for this area. Wharton and Columbia will tend to be more finance/quant focused - so even if you get that Q score up and can get in, it may not be the most comfortable fit!

Hope that helps!